Hen laid something that wasn't an "egg"!

[red311]

Please help...(I apologize in advance for the lack of technical chicken raising terms used below)

I have a hen who has seemed unwell for some time now...she is often fluffed out and just seems larger than the other birds of her breed. I thought she was egg bound but the remedies I tried didn't help. I even gave her antibiotics for fear she had other diseases....nothing seemed to cure what ailed her.

Woke up this morning to her in serious pain with bleeding...trying to birth something. I thought maybe this was the bound egg so was very careful in helping her move this along...eventually it came out and it was NOT an egg. It was as large (or larger) than an egg...in a round-ish shape but not consistently round. It was yellowish white in color and upon further investigation was a solid mass that almost looked "layered" inside. No liquid (yolk, etc.) at all.

After this object passed she had pretty substantial blood loss and what looked (for lack of better words) like a severe case of hemorrhoids. I cleaned her gently with a warm cloth. She sat still in the coop for over an hour. She chose to come out of the coop this afternoon and has been alternating between walking and pecking and laying down.

Two things...

What just happened here??(!)

and

How do I prevent it from happening again to my hen(s)?

Many thanks from this first time poster.

 

[dsqard]

Sounds like she was egg bound and finally passed it. I wish I could find the pictures that people posted on a thread about egg bound hens. What their hens passed sounds just like what you are describing. If I can find it, I will post it for you.

 

[honeydoll]

Oh that sounds terrible. Poor thing. She probably prolapsed from pushing so hard. Did you push the hemmoroid things back in, gently? Not sure what she passed, maybe a tumor, maybe an egg that sat in her too long and had malformed. Poor poor girl. Someone who knows much more will chime in. Good luck.

 

[Paaz1120]

This may sound gross but could we see a picture?

I hope your hen is feeling better!! Keep us updated on her.

 

[Ema]

posting a pic would be very helpful indeed.

she was likely egg bound and finally passed it, I have seen some pics of the egg bound hens some BYC members posted and one

and two, those poor hens!!!

If she prolapsed please be sure to push it back in and get some PrepH for her. might take a few times of pushing it back in for it to stay in. I would watch her closely, and if she is bleeding you will need to separate her from the rest because they will peck at her if she is prolapsed or bleeding. That will just matters a whole lot worse for her for sure.

 

[red311]

Friends, It is so nice to have others to talk to about these things! Friends/family just don't get as excited about my chickens as I do!

I'm always kicking myself for NOT taking pictures of the crazy things we encounter with our chickens (I had a "double" egg once, and egg INSIDE of an egg...it was HUGE), but I was lucky to keep my breakfast down this morning...it was THAT disgusting.

Just checked her and everything is back in place (good news) but she's waddling like she just gave birth to a 12 pounder (which in many ways she did!). Her underside is warm to the touch but she is eating out of my hand and otherwise moving gently about.

Could an unhatched egg eventually build up into something solid like this?

 

[dsqard]

OK I found a thread that has pictures of the "results" of egg yolk peritonitis. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4322823 I will warn you post #48 has pretty yukky pics and a description of the problem.

 

[tammye]

maybe you should try to stop her from laying for a few days by keeping her in a darken area, she needs time to heal up inside.

 

[red311]

Dsqard! That's it! Although my hen "laid" one that was a bit more round the color, consistency, and "layered" inside look are the same...wow - nice work on getting that pick pulled up (I've been looking, but to no avail). Ok...so will read up on this and figure out a plan (hopefully there is one). I'm concerned with HER future as well as that of my flock..haven't read the details yet but I'm hoping this is an individual case and not a flock issue.

 

[dsqard]

From the little that I have read on this it is more of an individual thing. It is not caused by something that could be passed from one hen to another.